It's been a busy week and we've got a digest full of news! You're all invited to Santa Cruz's first Mini Maker Faire, coming up April 16, but right now they're calling for Makers. Read coverage of two big events: HACK UCSC 2016 and Startup Weekend Monterey Bay at CSUMB. Learn about a Scotts Valley company that's creating health apps but is taking the process several steps beyond what most behavioral health technology companies do. Learn what the City of Salinas has planned for broadband. Find out which startups pitched for funding at a recent angel investor's meeting. Learn about the team that's building an electric vehicle in our own back yard. (I was impressed with their story!) And, find out who's going to help prepare the next generation to code. All this, and more.

Patrick Reilly of IP Society is our February Partner of the Month. Thanks for your support, Pat!

The Formula Slug team is passionate about electric vehicles. They're preparing to build a vehicle that they will take to a world-wide competition this summer. Read this story.

The problem starts at the K-12 level, where many students are never exposed to programming, or decide it's not for them due to negative associations with math. Code Naturally is helping to change all that. Read this story.

This past weekend Hack UCSC hosted more than 500 students who competed for $80K in prizes, racing the clock to develop new solutions in apps, software and websites. Read this story.

Six startups pitched for funding at the first Angels By The Sea meeting. Who are the startups and what are they creating? Read this story.

The City of Salinas is looking for telecommunications companies that are interested in using its municipal conduit system and other local assets to build out a high speed broadband system. Read this story.

This event "cultivates the pipeline of innovation and startups for the future." Startup Weekend Monterey Bay brought the excitement of entrepreneurship to CSUMB this past weekend. Read this story.

Modern Tribe, an agency with local roots and an impressive client list, is one of the top agencies in WordPress. What's it like working at Modern Tribe? Read this story.

"Santa Cruz has arrived!" That was the general theme at a recent technology panel at Plantronics organized by former mayor turned startup marketing officer Hilary Bryant. Read this story.

The County of Santa Cruz Santa Cruz County announces the completion of its Office for Economic Development, a new division that reports directly to the County Administrative Office. Read this story.